How lengthy may you steer clear of the poker tables? A month? A yr? For Norwegian poker legend Johnny Lodden, the reply was 944 days.
After greater than two and a half years away from the sport, Lodden made an surprising return on the Advantage Poker Carmen Sequence in Cyprus.
However this wasn’t a rigorously orchestrated comeback – he was merely on trip. One spur-of-the-moment resolution later, he discovered himself battling by way of a record-breaking Excessive Curler discipline, finally ending runner-up to Dawid Smolka for a $182,700 payday.
PokerNews caught up with Lodden to debate his shock return, his life away from the felt, and whether or not poker followers can count on to see extra of him sooner or later.
A New Path: Life Past Poker
Lodden’s final recorded poker money got here in 2022 at EPT Barcelona, and the European Poker Tour has been the stage for a few of his greatest profession moments. His largest single money got here in 2013 when he completed third within the EPT Monte Carlo Essential Occasion for €467,000, and he almost matched that feat in 2015 with a fourth-place end in the identical occasion for €379,000.
Although his time on the tables took a backseat, Lodden hasn’t been idle. For the previous 4 years, he has devoted himself to a completely completely different ardour—working as an surroundings therapist with youth.
“I’ve been doing this for 4 years now, and I adore it,” Lodden instructed PokerNews.
Although poker had been a defining a part of his life, Lodden hadn’t deliberate on making a return. In reality, he wasn’t even in Cyprus for the poker!
“I hadn’t performed a single hand of poker since [my last cash] at EPT Barcelona in 2022,” Lodden revealed. “I used to be simply searching for a trip someplace heat. Spain was my preliminary plan, nevertheless it was chilly there, so I began looking for different locations.
“Then I noticed Cyprus was 25 levels, and I additionally seen [fellow Norwegian] Aylar Lie was there, so I reached out to her. She helped me with a resort at Advantage, and I believed, ‘Why not play a match whereas I’m right here?’”
That impromptu resolution led to a powerful run within the $5,300 Excessive Curler occasion, the place Lodden battled by way of a record-breaking discipline of 270 gamers earlier than falling simply in need of the title as Poland’s Dawid Smolka got here out on high in a hard-fought heads-up match.
“Dawid performed nice the entire match; we have been on the identical desk all of Day 3,” Lodden mentioned. “I truthfully assume I performed nice heads-up and was a bit unlucky to not win. I hoped for me, Dawid, and Kiril [Shcherbakov] to be three-handed, as I noticed them as the most effective gamers.”
Will Lodden Return to Poker?
Whereas Lodden’s deep run in Cyprus may recommend a return to the poker circuit, he stays unsure about future appearances.
“Not for a lot, nevertheless it may occur,” Lodden admitted. ” I like the Advantage resort. The resort is sweet, the service is even higher, and the meals is unbelievable! Spa, tennis, squash, health club, pool—they’ve all of it!
“If I do play poker once more, it will almost certainly be to return again right here.”
With an surprising deep run and a reminder of his poker prowess, may Lodden be tempted to play extra? Solely time will inform, however let’s hope it’s not one other 944 days earlier than we see him again on the tables
Will Shillibier
Managing Editor
